Dispensing device for a bulk material receptacle

ABSTRACT

A dispensing device for the metered discharge of bulk material from a receptacle including a vertically movable cylindrical or tubular slide located in a funnel-shaped dispenser. Actuating means, such as a hydraulic cylinder arrangement, or a winding cable are adapted to raise or lower the slide so as to provide a variable material outlet orifice in the lower end of funnelshaped dispenser. Pressurized air may be introduced into the device for enhancing pneumatic conveyance of the material and prevent adherence thereof to the interior walls of the device.

United States Patent 1 Grun [ 51 May 15,1973

I 54] DISPENSING DEVICE FOR A BULK MATERIAL RECEPTACLE [75] Inventor:Gustav Gr'u'n, Lissberg/Oberhessen.

Germany [731 Assigneei Ilu'co-TeeliiiiEAG, Zurich, Switzerland [22]Filed: June 5, 1972 [21] App]. No.: 259,758

[52] US. Cl. ..222/l93, 222/504, 222/509 [51] Int. Cl ..B65g 65/62 [58]Field of Search; ..222/193, 460, 462,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,661,136 12/1953 Huisman..222/509 X 2,858,966 11/1958 Pfening ..222/504 Primary Examiner-SamuelF. Coleman Assistant Examiner.l0hn P. Shannon A ttorney- Eric H. Waterset a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A dispensing device for the metered discharge of bulkmaterial from a receptacle including a vertically movable cylindrical ortubular slide located in a funnel-shaped dispenser. Actuating means,such as a hydraulic cylinder arrangement, or a winding cable are adaptedto raise or lower the slide so as to provide a variable material outletorifice in the lower end of funnel-shaped dispenser. Pressurized air maybe introduced into the device for enhancing pneumatic conveyance of thematerial and prevent adherence thereof to the interior walls of thedevice.

7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED HAY] 5W5 SHEET 1 [IF 3 R, QmmmPATENTED HAY] SE75 SHEET 2 OF 3 DISPENSING DEVICE FOR A BULK MATERIALRECEPTACLE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to adispensing device for a bulk material receptacle and, more particularly,to a funnel-shaped dispenser having a variable orifice for the metereddischarge of the material.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Heretofore, dispensing devices known in theart generally included a flat slider adapted to, in its closingposition, bar the discharge orifice or conduit of thematerial-containing receptacle. Upon opening of the flatslider, eithermanually or by means of a suitable servo installation, quantities of thematerial were introduced into the operative components of the slider soas to greatly increase the wear thereof. Furthermore, dust and materialparticles frequently leaked through the slider actuating or operativecomponents exteriorly of the receptacle, thereby frequently causingundesirable hygienic and environmental problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, in order to obviatethe drawbacksand disadvantages encountered in the prior art constructions, thepresent invention contemplates the provision of a dispensing device ofextremely compact construction incorporating a preciselyadjustableslider arrangement and which, if required, may be readily adapted tofacilitate the pneumatic conveyance of loose or bulk materials beingdispensed from the receptacle. In connection with the foregoing, thenovel bulk material dispensing device, in accordance with the presentinvention, provides for a unique vertically movable cylindrical slidewhich is fastened, through the intermediary of a plurality of suitablecolumns or supports, onto a dispensing funnel for thematerial-containing receptacle. The dispensing device further includesan actuating or drive installation for imparting vertical movement tothe slide, with the installation including a first portion formed by asupporting base plate covered by a hood, and wherein the base platesupports a depending rod member which is rigidly fastened to the slide,and additionally, a sleeve member fastened to the base plate. The slideis adapted to move within the sleeve so as to be sealingly encompassedby the latter, and is also formed to sealingly engage at its lowermostend the inner wall surface of the dispensing funnel. The above mentionedfirst portion of the actuating arrangement has at least one of itssupport columns provided with a passageway which forms an operativeconnection between the first portion of the actuating installation andwith a second portion in response to externally supplied motive powerfor the operation of the installation.

Preferably, the slide is moved from its closed position by upwarddisplacement or movement thereof, however, the invention alsocontemplates within its scope the downward movement of the slide inorder to effect the opening of the material discharge orifice in thefunnel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order to obtain a more completeunderstanding of the invention, reference is now had to the detaileddescription of exemplary embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a sectional view of a dispensing'device according to theinvention for bulk material, incorporat- DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referringnow in detail to the drawings, and particularly FIG. 1, the illustrateddispensing device includes a bulk material discharge funnel 1 having atits upper end a radially outwardly projecting annular flange 2, whichhas fastened thereto a complementary flange 4 formed at the lower outletend of a bulk material receptacle 3.

The funnel 1 extends downwardly into a centrally lo cated discharge duct5. Three vertically extending columns or supports 6 extend through thewall of funnel l at peripherally spaced locations of 120 relative toeach other, and preferably are welded to the wall of the funnel l. Theupper ends of each of the columns 6 are threaded and extend throughsuitable aligned apertures formed in flange 7 of a sleeve 8 and asupporting bias plate 9, to which they are fastened by meansof threadednuts 10.

The inner wall of sleeve 8 includes, for at least a portion of itsheight, a downwardly and radially inwardly extending annular conicalsurface 11, the latter of which extends into a short cylindrical guidesurface portion 12 for a vertically movable hollow cylindrical ortubular slide 13. A ring-shaped lip seal 14 is fastened to the lowerhorizontal surface of sleeve 8, with the seal 14 having a radiallyinwardly projecting annular lip 15 adapted to sealingly engage the outerperipheral wall surface of cylindrical slide 13,.

The cylindrical slide 13 is provided, at its lower end and interiorlythereof, with a cylindrical downwardly depending extension 16, thelatter of which is generally conical toward its upper end andcylindrical toward its lower end, with the extension 16 having formedtherein an annular groove 17 in which a preferably highly elasticsealing ring 18 is positioned. The sealing ring 18 is adapted to, asshown in solid lines in the drawings, in the closed position of theslide 13 to firmly press against the inner wall surface at the lower end18 of the discharge funnel 1. The slide 13 is rigidly connected to acentral hub 20 by a plurality of radially extending arms 19. The lowerend of a'piston rod 21 is fastened to the hub 20, and is verticallyreciprocable in response to actuation of a piston (not shown) within adouble acting hydraulic cylinder 22.

The base plate 9 includes a central recessed portion 23 having asuitable threaded aperture in which the bottom of the cylinder 22 isthreadingly received and fastened by means of a nut 24. The base plate 9is provided with a conical hood 25 which covers the cylinder 22 as wellas the upper ends of columns 6.

Two of the support columns 6 are provided with longitudinally extendingaxial passageways 26 and 27 whose lower ends are connected, through theintermediary of inlet and outlet conduits 28 and 29 and a control valveinstallation 30, with a pressure conduit 31 and an exhaust conduit 32.The upper ends of passageways 26 and 27 are connected, respectively, bymeans of conduits 33 and 34 with respectively the upper and lowerworking chambers of cylinder 22. Thus, upon actuation of control valveinstallation 30, the cylindrical slide 13 may be raised or lowered to aprecisely adjustable extent. The position in which the slide 13 providesthe largest material discharge opening is illustrated in chain-dot at13'.

When the slide 13 is in its open position, dust and material particleslodge in the space 35 between slide 13 and sleeve 8. Because of theconical surface II, these particles slide downwardly through theinterior of slide 13 and duct without in any possible manner being ableto escape out of the installation, and without causing damage duringoperation of the slide.

Referring now to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings,this embodiment is primarily distinguished from the construction shownin FIG. 1 in that, in lieu of the hydraulic actuation of the slide,there is provided a manually operated system. In this construction, thehub of the cylindrical slide 13 is fastened to a rod 36 at the lower endof the latter, the rod being carried by a guide or support member 37which is threaded into the bottom of recessed portion 23 of the baseplate 9. A compression spring 38 is provided so as to normally biasslide 13 into its lower or closed position. The upper end of rod 36 ormember 37 is connected to a cable 39, the latter of which is entrainedabout two rollers 40 and 41, and with the cable leading through apassageway 42 formed in one of the columns 6 toward a winding drum 43.The drum 43 is provided with a suitable hand crank 44 which facilitatesthe winding of the cable 39 onto the drum in opposition to the force ofspring 38, thereby permitting the slide 13 to be manually raised andopened to a predetermined discharge orifice-opening extent.

A locking arrangement of usual construction (not shown) is adapted toposition the drum 43 in the predetermined stationary or locked positionwhereby, in order to effect the closing of the slide, a small force mustbe exerted against crank 44 in the unwinding direction thereof. In theconstruction shown in FIG. 2, the base plate 9, the guide member 37,rollers 40 and 4], and the cable 39 are covered by a hemi-spherical hood45. The particular shape of hood or 45 which, in accordance with theembodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, primarily serves to protect the slideactuating elements mounted on base plate 9 from contact with the bulkmaterial, may be determined in accordance with the type of materialbeing processed, in effect, to provide the desired material sliding orflow slope and angle.

Referring now to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings,the hood 45 disclosed therein has the additional purpose of introducingan air stream into the stream or flow of the bulk material beingdispensed, so as to further convey the material further in a pneumaticenvironment. In order to attain this purpose, the hood 45 is connectedwith a pressurized air-flow conduit 46 which extends into receptacle 3athrough an aperture 47. The base plate is provided with apertures 48which permit the pressurized air introduced into the space below hood 45to flow into sleeve 8. With the possible exception of a few relativelyminor constructional modifications, the installation according to theembodiment of FIG. 3 essentially corresponds with that of FIG. I, as maybe ascertained by referring to the generally schematic illustration ofthe former.

The upper end of discharge funnel I is provided with an external annularring-shaped channel 49 which is connected to a pressurized-air conduit50. The inner peripheral wall 51 of the channel 49 is constituted of anessentially porous metal having, for example, a thickness ofapproximately 5 mm. Upon opening of a suitable valve (not shown),pressurized air is conveyed through conduit 50 into the annularring-shaped channel 49, in which it is distributed and from which itthen flows through the porous inner wall of the channel 49 into thefunnel l, and also into receptacle 3a, the latter of which has aninherent internal excess pressure of approximately two atmosphereswithout appreciable leakage losses. In accordance with the foregoing,the bulk material is fluidized by the thus introduced pressurized airand, in particular, when applied to bulk materials tending to coagulate,such as cement, adherence to the wall surface of the receptacle isprevented.

An extension conduit or duct 52 is connected to discharge duct 5, andmay be provided with a flow measuring installation 53 of knownconstruction. By manipulation of the control valve 30 the quantity ofbulk material being discharged into conduit 52 may-be precisely metered.

When the receptacle 3a is emptied of bulk material, the compressed aircontained in the conveying compo nents of the installation is suddenlyexpanded when conveyed through conduit 52, which may be detrimentalcomponents with installation containing, for example, a filter device.

In order to rapidly reduce the flow of air, the measuring device 53 maybe connected to control valve 30 through a control conduit 54, therebypermitting the cylindrical slide 13 to be lowered in response to anexcessive air stream. In its closed position, slide 13 throttles the airstream emanating from receptacle 3a, thereby preventing overloading ofthe components connected downstream thereof, such as filters or thelike.

Annular ring-shaped channels 49 having porous inner walls may bepositioned not only on the dispensing device, but also on the receptacle3a at predetermined elevations. In order to enhance the flow of the bulkmaterial, other suitable means may be utilized, such as applying avibrator 55 to the outer wall of the discharge funnel l.

The cylindrical slide 13 need only be externally formed as a cylindricalmember. The inner surface thereof may include a suitable restrictionwhich may readily take the form of a Venturi-tube, and is particularlyadvantageous in the embodiment of FIG. 3, since this provides for thepneumatic conveyance of the bulk material being discharged.

While there has been shown what is considered to be the preferredembodiment of the invention, it will be obvious that modifications maybe made which come within the scope of the disclosure of thespecification.

What is claimed is:

1. Dispensing device for a bulk material receptacle having a materialdischarge funnel converging upon a cylindrical material outlet ductmember; comprising a variable-orifice closure means in said dischargefunnel for the metered dispensing of materials therethrough, avertically movable cylindrical slide in said discharge funnel, astationary base plate in said funnel, a plurality of spaced column meansfastening said base plate to said funnel, slide actuating means having afirst portion mounted on said base plate, a second portion of saidactuating means including a vertically reciprocable depending rod memberrigidly connected to said slide, a sleeve fastened to and depending fromsaid base plate, said slide in the lower closed position thereof beingadapted to sealingly engage said sleeve and the lower end of saiddischarge funnel, said base plate including a hood portion covering atleast portions of said slide actuating means, and passageway meansextending through at least one of the base plate fastening column meansproviding access of an operative medium to said slide actuating means.

2. Dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, comprising sealing meansmounted at the lower end of said slide, said sealing means sealinglyengaging said discharge funnel in the lower closed position of saidslide, said sleeve having a downwardly and inwardly projecting annularconical flange portion, and annular sealing means fastened to the lowersurface of said sleeve and encompassing said slide so as to providesealing contact therewith.

3. Dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, said first portion of theactuating means comprising a doubleacting cylinder, said rod membercomprising a piston rod extending at its upper end into said cylinder soas to form a pair of working chambers therein, two of said baseplate-fastening columnmeans having passageways therein comprisingactuating medium conduits connected to respectively each of said workingchambers, and control valve means being connected to the opposite endsof each of said conduits for conveying operative pressure media towardand from the working chambers of said cylinder.

4. Dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, said first portion of theactuating means comprising roller means mounted on said base plate, acable entrained about said roller means, said cable having one endthereof fastened to the upper end of said rod member and a lengththereof extending through the passageway means in at least one of saidbase plate-fastening column means, resilient spring means encompassingsaid rod member and engaging said slide so as to normally bias thelatter downwardly into discharge orificeclosing relationship, andwinding means connected to the free end of the cable extending from saidbase plate-fastening column means for imparting opening movement to saidslide in response to winding of said cable about said winding means.

5. Dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, comprising conduit meansconnected to said hood for supplying pressurized air thereinto, saidbase plate having apertures extending therethrough for egress of saidpressurized air throughsaid sleeve and said slide toward said materialoutlet duct member, said pressurized air, upon opening of said slide,enhancing flow of said bulk material from said discharge funnel intosaid outlet duct member.

6. Dispensing device as claimed in claim 5, said slide having aninternal reduced diameter portion comprising a Venturi-tubeconfiguration.

7. Dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, comprising an annularconduit encompassing the upper end of said discharge funnel, saidconduit having a porous inner wall communicating with the interior ofsaid funnel, said conduit means being adapted to receive pressurized airand convey said air through said porous wall into said funnel to therebyadmix with and fluidize said bulk material.

1. Dispensing device for a bulk material receptacle having a materialdischarge funnel converging upon a cylindrical material outlet ductmember; comprising a variable-orifice closure means in said dischargefunnel for the metered dispensing of materials therethrough, avertically movable cylindrical slide in said discharge funnel, astationary base plate in said funnel, a plurality of spaced column meansfastening said base plate to said funnel, slide actuating means having afirst portion mounted on said base plate, a second portion of saidactuating means including a vertically reciprocable depending rod memberrigidly connected to said slide, a sleeve fastened to and depending fromsaid base plate, said slide in the lower closed position thereof beingadapted to sealingly engage said sleeve and the lower end of saiddischarge funnel, said base plate including a hood portion covering atleast portions of said slide actuating means, and passageway meansextending through at least one of the base plate fastening column meansproviding access of an operative medium to said slide actuating means.2. Dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, comprising sealing meansmounted at the lower end of said slide, said sealing means sealinglyengaging said discharge funnel in the lower closed position of saidslide, said sleeve having a downwardly and inwardly projecting annularconical flange portion, and annular sealing means fastened to the lowersurface of said sleeve and encompassing said slide so as to providesealing contact therewith.
 3. Dispensing device as claimed in claim 1,said first portion of the actuating means comprising a double-actingcylinder, said rod member comprising a piston rod extending at its upperend into said cylinder so as to form a pair of working chambers therein,two of said base plate-fasteninG column means having passageways thereincomprising actuating medium conduits connected to respectively each ofsaid working chambers, and control valve means being connected to theopposite ends of each of said conduits for conveying operative pressuremedia toward and from the working chambers of said cylinder. 4.Dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, said first portion of theactuating means comprising roller means mounted on said base plate, acable entrained about said roller means, said cable having one endthereof fastened to the upper end of said rod member and a lengththereof extending through the passageway means in at least one of saidbase plate-fastening column means, resilient spring means encompassingsaid rod member and engaging said slide so as to normally bias thelatter downwardly into discharge orifice-closing relationship, andwinding means connected to the free end of the cable extending from saidbase plate-fastening column means for imparting opening movement to saidslide in response to winding of said cable about said winding means. 5.Dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, comprising conduit meansconnected to said hood for supplying pressurized air thereinto, saidbase plate having apertures extending therethrough for egress of saidpressurized air through said sleeve and said slide toward said materialoutlet duct member, said pressurized air, upon opening of said slide,enhancing flow of said bulk material from said discharge funnel intosaid outlet duct member.
 6. Dispensing device as claimed in claim 5,said slide having an internal reduced diameter portion comprising aVenturi-tube configuration.
 7. Dispensing device as claimed in claim 1,comprising an annular conduit encompassing the upper end of saiddischarge funnel, said conduit having a porous inner wall communicatingwith the interior of said funnel, said conduit means being adapted toreceive pressurized air and convey said air through said porous wallinto said funnel to thereby admix with and fluidize said bulk material.